New Staff, Consultants on ASI Payroll

New Staff, Consultants on ASI Payroll

Chase Adams is joining the ASI staff in the newly created role of senior policy and information director, but he’s not the association’s only new hire in recent months.
Montana’s Lisa Surber, Ph.D., and Germany’s Goetz Giebel have joined the wool department’s consultant team on a contract basis. Filling each of the positions by the end of 2016 was a priority for the association.

“We’re thrilled to have each of these three join the association,” said ASI Executive Director Peter Orwick. “The retirement of two wool consultants left some large shoes to fill, but we believe we have the right people to handle the job. In filling a newly created position, Chase will also have a lot on his plate as we look to maximize the value of his role.”

The new position will handle a variety of challenges for ASI, including: coordinating the legislative and regulatory actions on environmental issues impacting sheep production on private and public lands, planning and directing action on sustainability and animal welfare topics for sheep producers and communicating these issues to the industry and public.

“Managing this myriad of issues requires a dynamic approach and I feel confident that I bring the skills to the table to work across this wide range,” Adams said.

Adams comes from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, where he served as Director of Communications in NCBA’s Washington, D.C., office for the past four years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and graduated from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2009. With an ag-related background, Adams worked as farm director for KBHB Radio in Sturgis, S.D., while also operating his own law firm before joining NCBA.

Surber will serve as the raw wool services consultant and will be working to maximize the value of the U.S. wool clip through education, working with industry and developing quality improvement programs. She will continue to live in Montana.

“I believe one of my strengths is my ability to work with diverse personalities through understanding and collaboration,” said Surber, who is well known within the western sheep industry.

The raw wool service position works with producers, university extension specialists, shearers, warehouses, wool-buyers and others to develop a program to educate and inform growers about ways to increase the value of their wool and expand their marketing options.

The longtime Montana State University Wool Lab manager left that position in 2015 and has since served as a ruminant nutritionist with WestFeeds in Montana. She is the Targhee representative to the National Sheep Improvement Program board of directors and is a Level IV wool classer and instructor. Surber is also a certified ultrasound scanner.

Giebel will use the skills he first developed while working for some of the largest wool topmakers and worsted spinners to develop marketing opportunities and new products for American wool. He also serves as president of Interwoollabs, a non-profit organization “for the international harmonization of laboratories measuring wool for micron and length.”